Secret Service chief quits due to security lapses WASHINGTON (AP) — Secret Service Director Julia Pierson abruptly resigned Wednesday in the face of multiple revelations of security breaches, bumbling in her agency and rapidly eroding confidence that the president and his family were being kept safe. President Barack Obama "concluded new leadership of that agency was required," said spokesman Josh Earnest. High-ranking lawmakers from both parties had urged her to step down after her poorly re...

Early voting for runoff beginsEarly voting begins Tuesday for the lone runoff race from the annual school board election. Angie Billingsley Smith and Shawn Bates will vie for the five-year seat on the Dover Board of Education after emerging with the most votes on Sept. 16 from a pool of five candidates. Billingsley Smith garnered a little more than 31 percent of the votes with 131, while Bates racked up just more than 29 percent with 121 votes, according to official result...

It's Pryor v. Cotton v. Obama in Arkansas race PICKENS (AP) — In a Senate race as pivotal as any in the country, Arkansas Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor is running against Republican Rep. Tom Cotton, who is running against President Barack Obama. All else is secondary, including a clash over agriculture and issues, a caustic tidal wave of television ads washing over voters and an intensive effort by Democrats to register thousands of new voters in a state that has turned several shades redder ...

Groups argue over alcohol measure on ballot LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Opponents of a proposal to expand alcohol sales to all Arkansas counties argued Thursday it would lead to liquor stores opening near churches and schools, an accusation the group behind the measure denied as the two sides filed briefs before the state's highest court. The two groups and state election officials also tangled over whether the state used the right deadline in accepting petitions for the measure, which would leg...

Court appoints master in wage increase lawsuit LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas' highest court has appointed a former state appeals judge to review evidence in the lawsuit that aims to remove a proposed minimum wage increase from the November ballot. The state Supreme Court on Thursday appointed John B. Robbins as a special master to hold hearings and review evidence regarding the lawsuit filed by Little Rock businessman Jackson T. Stephens Jr. Stephens is challenging the validity of the signat...

Eric Holder steps down as U.S. Attorney General after 6 yearsEric Holder, who served as the public face of the Obama administration's legal fight against terrorism and weighed in on issues of racial fairness, is resigning after six years on the job. He is the nation's first black attorney general. The White House said that President Barack Obama would announce Holder's departure later Thursday and that Holder, one of Obama's longest serving Cabinet members, planned to remain at the Justice Department un...

AG: Martin's office to defend voter ID LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Attorney General Dustin McDaniel said Wednesday that the secretary of state's office will defend Arkansas' voter ID law when a lawsuit over its constitutionality goes before the state Supreme Court next week. McDaniel, a Democrat, said he agreed to yield to Republican Secretary of State Mark Martin's office the state's argument time when justices hold a hearing on the law Oct. 2. The state has appealed Pulaski County Circuit...

Groundbreaking held for US Marshals Museum FORT SMITH (AP) — Formal groundbreaking has been held in Fort Smith for a U.S. Marshals Museum on the banks of the Arkansas River overlooking Oklahoma. Federal, state, tribal and local officials that included U.S. Sens. Mark Pryor and John Boozman; Rep. Steve Womack; Gov. Mike Beebe; Principal Chief George Tiger and marshals services officials were among the estimated crowd of 1,000 that turned out for Wednesday's ceremony. The groundbreaking ...

Arkansas sees massive ad blitz for state races LITTLE ROCK (AP) — The political blitz that's been hitting Arkansans' television sets isn't just limited to the nationally watched fight for a U.S. Senate seat, according to a study released Wednesday that shows a triple-digit percentage increase in ad spending on state-level races. Arkansas' candidates for governor, attorney general, the Legislature and other state offices have spent nearly $6.1 million to run more than 16,700 ads in the stat...

Ryan campaigns for Hutchinson's gubernatorial bid BENTON (AP) — Former Republican vice presidential nominee and U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan called Asa Hutchinson someone he could team up with to fight poverty as he campaigned for the former congressman's gubernatorial bid in Arkansas on Wednesday. The Wisconsin lawmaker and chairman of the House Budget Committee headlined a fundraiser for Hutchinson, who is in a heated race against fellow ex-congressman and Democratic nominee Mike Ross. The two are r...

State asks court to dismiss wage measure challenge LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Secretary of State Mark Martin asked the Arkansas Supreme Court on Wednesday to dismiss a lawsuit from a Little Rock businessman who is trying to keep off the November ballot a measure to raise the state's minimum wage. Martin asked justices to dismiss the lawsuit filed Monday by Jackson T. Stephens Jr., who is challenging the validity of the signatures submitted in support of the measure and the deadline the state used for ...

Gov. Beebe donates archives to Arkansas State JONESBORO (AP) — Gov. Mike Beebe announced Saturday he will donate his eight years of gubernatorial papers, video footage, photographs and memorabilia to his alma mater, Arkansas State University. Beebe, a 1968 graduate of Arkansas State and past chairman of its Board of Trustees, said he is pleased to work with ASU to share his part of the state's history with researchers, historians and students from Arkansas and beyond. "I've made no secret...

Ross, Hutchinson spar over tax cuts, ads in debate LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Republican gubernatorial hopeful Asa Hutchinson and Democratic rival Mike Ross sparred over their competing tax cut plans and negative ads blanketing Arkansas' airwaves as they squared off in an occasionally testy debate Friday night. In their first statewide televised debate, the two ex-congressmen touted their proposals to reduce income taxes and also tried to portray one another as partisans. The two are running to succee...

Cops: Ex-alderman accused of forcing men to fight A former Arkansas alderman was arrested this week after allegedly forcing two young men to fight and pointing a gun at a teenager at his home, police said Friday. John Dodd, who lives in the small town of Bono, is facing numerous charges, including aggravated assault and false imprisonment. Dodd, 49, was jailed Wednesday but released Thursday after posting a $10,000 bond. According to police, Dodd threatened his 20-year-old son and told him to...

Cotton defends farm bill vote in new TV ad LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Republican U.S. Senate candidate Tom Cotton defended his vote against the farm bill in a new television ad Thursday, pushing back on an issue where Democrats are trying to cast him as out of touch with rural Arkansas. Cotton, the freshman congressman hoping to unseat Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor, cites his objections to food-stamp funding included in the nearly $100 billion-a-year legislation he voted against in January. Cotto...

Arkansas' 2 US senators back plan on rebel aid LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas' two U.S. senators have voted in support of President Barack Obama's request to train and arm rebels battling Islamic State militants in Syria. U.S. Sens. John Boozman and Mark Pryor voted Thursday for legislation that cleared the Senate and also provides money to keep the government operating after the end of the budget year on Sept. 30 and through Dec. 11. The measure passed the Senate on a 78-22 vote. U.S. Reps. ...

Rendering plant manager grilled by Russellville City Council The Russellville City Council, in front of nearly a packed house in the City Hall’s second-floor chambers, told Premium Protein Products manager Danny Craig they wanted a solution to the “smells and stench” that have permeated the city for several years. Long-time resident L.J. Faaborg told aldermen the smell from the rendering plant has been in the local air for 30-plus years, and the city “had not done a darn thing about it.” “I’m tired of s...

Hutchinson notes oncoming advertising onslaught LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Republican gubernatorial candidate Asa Hutchinson said Wednesday that Arkansas residents are about to be treated to something that voters in Iowa and New Hampshire see every four years - a barrage of political advertising. Speaking to the Political Animals club in Little Rock, Hutchinson estimated that candidates up and down the ballot would spend $16 million over the next seven weeks on television and other media ads. He co...

Cabin interior firm announces facility LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A French aircraft cabin interior manufacturer said Wednesday that it is spending $2.5 million to open a new facility in Arkansas that will initially employ 75 people. Beaudet Aviation said its new facility is adjacent to the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport and that it will supply Dassault Falcon Jet with completion work for its Falcon models. Beaudet Aviation is a subsidiary of JCB Aero. "We aspire to recreate an e...